Shin Min-Ah: Biography, Relationship with Kim Woo Bin, Cancer
There’s a particular kind of strength that emerges when life throws everything at a couple, and few celebrity relationships have been tested quite like the one between Shin Min-Ah and Kim Woo Bin. This dossier tracks the timeline of their relationship, the facts behind the health battle, and what their future might hold.
Birthdate: April 5, 1984 ·
Age (2024): 40 ·
Boyfriend: Kim Woo Bin (since 2015) ·
Kim Woo Bin Diagnosis Year: 2017 ·
Donation Amount (2023): 300 million won (~$229,000)
Quick snapshot
- Shin Min-Ah born April 5, 1984, in Seoul, South Korea (Wikipedia (community-curated encyclopedia))
- Relationship with Kim Woo Bin confirmed July 2015 (The Indian Express (Indian daily newspaper))
- Kim Woo Bin diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in May 2017 (Zoom TV Entertainment (Indian entertainment outlet))
- Donated 300 million won to charity in April 2023 (The Korea Herald (English-language South Korean daily))
- No wedding has been announced as of 2024
- No children reported
- Exact treatment details for Kim Woo Bin’s cancer remain private
- Whether the 2023 donation was tied to a wedding arrangement
- 2015: Relationship confirmed after brand campaign meeting (The Indian Express)
- May 2017: Kim Woo Bin cancer diagnosis (Zoom TV Entertainment)
- December 2019: Recovery announced, return to work (The Indian Express)
- 2023: Couple still together, major charity donation (The Korea Herald)
- Marriage rumors persist but unconfirmed
- Kim Woo Bin’s acting career has resumed
- Shin Min-Ah continues with new projects
Nine key facts about Shin Min-Ah’s profile, one pattern: she has maintained remarkable consistency in both her career trajectory and her private life.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shin Min-Ah ( ) |
| Birth Name | Yang Min-A ( ) |
| Birthdate | April 5, 1984 |
| Age (2024) | 40 |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Occupation | Actress, Model |
| Years Active | 1998–present |
| Boyfriend | Kim Woo Bin (since 2015) |
| Notable Works | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, The Man from Nowhere |
What is the age gap between Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin?
Shin Min-Ah was born on April 5, 1984, making her 40 years old in 2024. Kim Woo Bin was born on July 16, 1989, placing him at 35. The difference is exactly five years, with Shin Min-Ah being the older of the two (Chosun Ilbo English (South Korean daily newspaper)).
Are Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin still together?
Yes. The couple has been together since July 2015, making it nine years as of 2024. Their agencies confirmed the relationship the same day South Korean media outlet Dispatch broke the story (Pinkvilla (Indian entertainment news site)). Every major update since — including Kim Woo Bin’s cancer diagnosis in 2017 and his recovery in 2019 — has been navigated together.
How did Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin meet?
They first crossed paths while filming a commercial campaign for a fashion brand in January 2015 (Times of India (Indian English-language daily)). Their agencies confirmed the relationship six months later. They filmed their first commercial together as a couple in October 2015, projecting a united front from the very start.
Five years may seem like a gap, but in the context of a nine-year relationship that weathered cancer treatment, the age difference has been irrelevant. What matters is that both parties stayed, publicly and privately.
The implication: age has not been a factor in their enduring bond.
What was Kim Woo Bin diagnosed with?
In May 2017, Kim Woo Bin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer — a rare form of cancer in the upper part of the throat behind the nose (Zoom TV Entertainment (Indian entertainment outlet)). The diagnosis came as a shock to both the industry and the public, as Kim Woo Bin had been actively building his acting career.
When was Kim Woo Bin diagnosed?
The diagnosis was confirmed in May 2017. His agency, AM Entertainment, released a statement acknowledging the health battle and requesting privacy as he began treatment. By that time, Shin Min-Ah was already two years into their relationship.
What is nasopharyngeal cancer?
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a cancer that originates in the nasopharynx. According to medical literature, treatment typically involves radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. Kim Woo Bin’s specific treatment regimen was not publicly disclosed, but he reportedly took a significant hiatus from work.
How did the couple handle the diagnosis?
Shin Min-Ah supported Kim Woo Bin throughout his treatment (The Indian Express (Indian English-language daily)). Public sightings were rare during this period, but the couple was reported to have stayed close. In December 2019, Kim Woo Bin announced that he had recovered and was preparing to return to acting. He later appeared alongside Shin Min-Ah in the 2022 drama Our Blues.
For a celebrity couple in South Korea’s demanding entertainment industry, a cancer diagnosis could have ended both the career and the relationship. Instead, Kim Woo Bin is now referred to as a cancer survivor, and the couple’s bond is widely cited as one of the strongest in the Korean entertainment landscape (Lifestyle Asia (Asian lifestyle magazine)).
Is Shin Min Ah getting married?
As of 2024, there has been no wedding. Reports in 2025 suggested the couple planned to marry after ten years together, but no official statement from either agency has been released (The Korea Herald (English-language South Korean daily)).
Does Shin Min Ah have children?
No. There are no reports of any children, and neither party has commented on future family plans.
Did Shin Min-a and Kim Woo Bin donate 300 million won after their wedding?
This appears to be a conflation of two separate events. A donation of 300 million won was indeed reported in April 2023, but it was not tied to any wedding (The Korea Herald (English-language South Korean daily)). The couple has donated to charitable causes through organizations like “Hearts and Hands to Help,” but the timing and purpose of the 300 million won donation has not been explicitly linked to a wedding.
What this means: fans should not expect an imminent wedding announcement.
What are Shin Min Ah’s most popular dramas?
Shin Min-Ah has built a career spanning over two decades, with roles that range from supernatural romances to gritty action films.
Notable dramas
Here is a summary of her most acclaimed television work, which includes romantic comedies and ensemble dramas.
| Drama | Year | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Girlfriend is a Gumiho | 2010 | Gu Mi-ho (a nine-tailed fox) | SBS |
| Arang and the Magistrate | 2012 | Arang (a ghost) | MBC |
| Oh My Venus | 2015–2016 | Kang Joo-eun (a lawyer) | KBS2 |
| Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | 2021 | Yoon Hye-jin (a dentist) | tvN |
| Our Blues | 2022 | Min Seon-ah (a diver) | tvN |
Notable movies
Shin Min-Ah’s film credits also include a mix of genres.
| Movie | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| My Tutor Friend | 2003 | Kwon Sang-woo’s love interest |
| The Man from Nowhere | 2010 | Kim Hyo-jeong |
Awards and recognition
She has received multiple nominations from the Baeksang Arts Awards, South Korea’s most prestigious entertainment awards, including Best Actress for her role in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
The pattern: her career peaks in two phases, with romantic leads as her strength.
How old is Shin Min Ah?
She was born on April 5, 1984, making her 40 years old in 2024.
Biography and early life
Shin Min-Ah was born in Seoul, South Korea. She began her career as a model in 1998 at the age of 14, appearing in teen fashion magazines. Her acting debut came in 2000 with the drama The Last Match.
Birth name and family
Her birth name is Yang Min-A. She adopted the stage name Shin Min-Ah when she started her professional career. Her family background remains largely private — she rarely discusses her parents or siblings in interviews.
Career beginnings
After her modeling debut, she transitioned to acting in 2001 with minor roles. Her breakthrough came in 2003 with the film My Tutor Friend, but it was the 2010 drama My Girlfriend is a Gumiho that cemented her status as a leading actress in the Korean entertainment industry. For comparisons with other actors, see the ranking of famous actors.
Shin Min-Ah has traded the high-profile, fast-paced celebrity lifestyle for a more measured presence. She has no personal social media account (her official Instagram is managed by her agency), and she rarely gives personal interviews. For a fanbase craving updates, the silence is frustrating. For her relationship with Kim Woo Bin, the privacy may have been essential.
The implication: her privacy-first approach has helped sustain her relationship.
Relationship timeline
Editor’s note: This timeline combines publicly reported events. Some dates are approximate based on agency statements.
- January 2015 – Shin Min-Ah and Kim Woo Bin meet while filming a fashion brand commercial (Times of India (Indian English-language daily))
- July 2015 – Relationship publicly confirmed by both agencies after Dispatch’s report (Pinkvilla (Indian entertainment news site))
- October 2015 – First commercial as a couple released (Times of India)
- December 2015 – Kim Woo Bin’s agency assures fans the couple is going strong (Times of India)
- May 2017 – Kim Woo Bin diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer (
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